The Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) shared that it brought together in-house teams, law firms, technology and services providers, and other legal operations leaders from the UK and across the continent through its recent Europe Summit.
Developed in collaboration with RSGI, CLOC’s summit was a one-day event held at a venue in Bishopsgate, London, UK, on Feb. 5.
“The conversations happening here reflect how legal operations in Europe is evolving,” said Oyango Snell, CLOC president and chief executive officer, in a news release.
The summit sought to enable the attendees to:
- Examine the strategic landscape for legal operations in Europe
- Participate in sessions focusing on collaboration across the enterprise, broader participation beyond traditional legal roles, and inclusive and connected ways to work
- Tackle the issues that matter most to European legal operations, including the multidisciplinary skill sets transforming the profession and the demonstration of value
“Value now has to be demonstrated,” said Áine Lyons, CLOC board member, immediate past president, and European lead. “Trust has to be earned to drive adoption. And judgment has to stay firmly human. The work ahead has to be designed, deliberately.”
“Teams are focused on outcomes, accountability, and building operating models that hold up under real pressure,” Snell added. “This Summit is about turning insight into action.”
Event speakers
Upon opening the program, Lyons referred to the pressures reshaping the delivery of legal work.
“We are living through a moment where the profession’s entire orbit is shifting,” Lyons said. “AI brings real opportunity, but it also tests our foundations.”
Lyons explained that legal teams across Europe are shifting from execution to orchestration. Lyons stressed the need for multidisciplinary capability, clear operating models, and shared accountability in how legal teams support businesses.
Christina von Messling, a futurist, delivered a keynote speech emphasizing the impacts of AI, extended reality, and synthetic biology on the legal and other operations of organizations.
von Messling urged legal leaders to align innovation with real business value and to reconsider how they adapt, invest, and grow in the swiftly evolving landscape.
In its news release, CLOC said it planned to publish the 2026 CLOC Europe Summit insights report, which will discuss significant themes, trends, and takeaways from the event’s sessions and speakers.
At the recent summit, CLOC shared a preview of findings from its 2026 state of the industry report, based on a law department survey.
CLOC’s plans
CLOC expects to release the full state of the industry report on Mar. 2. The association will hold a webinar for its members on Mar. 5.
In its news release, CLOC announced that it will host its 2026 CLOC Global Institute in Chicago from May 11–14. It also has plans for events in the APAC and Latin American regions later this year.
CLOC is a membership organization encompassing the global legal operations community.